Page 25 of Property of Camo

Leaving the school, I arrive at the gym, then go to my office where I find Tate already waiting for me. He looks over his shoulder when he hears my door open, a wide smile slipping across his handsome face.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite officer of the law.” I step into his arms.

“I had better be your only favorite officer.” He kisses the side of my head, then we take our seats. “I can assume that you didnot invite me here for some pleasure; we have been there and done that, babe,” he says, winking.

I sigh, offering him a small smile.

“No. How bad does it need to be for CPS to step in and remove a child from an abusive home?”

His back straightens, and any humor falls from his face.

“What have you got?”

I tell him all about Aston, and with each word, his body coils tighter and tighter. Tate is one of the good guys, and I know that he does not tolerate bad cops in his precinct.

“We can look into the parents. Set it up for someone to visit the home. Where is the boy now?”

“School. I know that I should have called you last night, but I was wrecked after work and he was emotionally and physically spent.” I sigh, rubbing my temples.

“If the parents find out where he was, they could have reported you for kidnapping, babe. Next time call me, okay?” I nod at him.

His voice is tight but I know it is with concern for me.

“That bad?” I look at him and he nods.

“That bad. They sound like cunts, Sky, so I would not put it past them to do it. Make them out to be the victims and concerned parents. Seen it before.”

“I would hate to do your job, Tate. I would lose my badge on my first day on the job,” I admit, making him laugh.

“You have to learn restraint.” He winks.

“That is why you beat the fuck out of the bag downstairs, when you get off a bad shift?”

“Exactly.” We laugh. “I will put a call in to someone I know who works over at CPS, and see what she says.”

“She?” I wiggle my eyebrows, and he shakes his head, smiling.

“It is not like that,” he says, grinning.

“If you say so,” I say in a singsong voice.

“She is married and has a kid. What about you? Still fucking that emotionless supernatural biker?” He smirks as I wince, causing his smirk to drop from his face when he sees the pain flash across mine.

“What did he do?” His voice is deep, showing his anger.

Tate obviously knows about the supernaturals here in Salem, but he runs a tight ship with them and will not allow them to run around doing what they want. He has worked with the Kings of Anarchy before, on both sides of the law.

“Nothing, that is just it. I told him I deserve more; he got angry and told me that I knew what we were doing from the start. Then he left.” I shrug, ignoring the twinge in my chest.

I shift in my seat while Tate stares at me, like he is trying to figure out exactly what I am thinking.

“You deserve so fucking much, Sky. You know I love you, and you deserve more than that fucker can give you.” I nod, acknowledging his words.

“I know.”

I have to believe that I can move on from Camo, and be strong when I see him with someone else, because I know deep down that it will happen eventually. He is not a man who can go without sex.

I am strong and have a great support system, so I will get through it.

---